Environmental Studies: 2011

Monday, June 13, 2011

Cyclones

Cyclones are formed because high sea temperature causes hot air to rise due to the spreading out of the particle and lowering of density. Once the air rises to the top the air becomes dense again and falls back down. This keeps on going and more and more air is moving, more energy is being released. Latent heat energy in the clouds/atmosphere is released and this adds energy to the vortex that is created. A spiral shape is formed outside of the moving air due to it being the most efficient way to move (bath tub effect). The direction of the vortex depends where in the world it is- because of the corealis effect.

Friday, June 10, 2011

Environmental Homework

(i) Where are strategies for reducing traffic emissions likely to be more effective - in developed world cities like Los Angeles or in developing world cities like Cairo and Beijing?
Strategies for reducing traffic emissions would be more effective in developed cities such as Los Angles rather than developing cities such as Cairo and Beijing. This is because most of developed cities have the capital and power to enforce things that will reduce the emissions. On the other hand however third world countries do not have the time and money to spend on this as they are more focused on building their own economy.

(ii) State two reasons why atmospheric pollution are worse in places with a dry and hot climate
Atmospheric pollution are worse in dry and hot climates because trap the pollution or green house gases that are produced and in addition to this the dry climates mean thier is no rain fall therefore pollution will not be washed away

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Sugar Cane

Burning sugar releases carbon dioxide into the air

Burning sugar cane only releases a small amount of carbon dioxide because the do not burn the sugar itself .

In addition to this burning the sugar cane is just realeasing carbon back into the atmosphere which will be released if the sugar cane dies anyway

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Biome Revision

What is Biome?

A Biome is a place on earth that are geographically and climatically the same. Also known as ecosystems.

What types of Biomes are there?

Tundra-Coldest Biome, low biotic diversity, short season of growth

Desert- very little rain fall, can be hot/dry/cold or semiarid

Taiga- largest biome, made up of coniferous forests, means forest in Russian

Grassland-land dominated by grass, average annual precipitation, soil is dry

Rainforest-forest, tall trees, warm year round, above average precipitation

Chaparral-shrub land, frequent fires, non-deciduous trees, and dry climate

Deciduous Rain forest-deciduous trees, divided into 5 zones depending on the height of trees

Savannah –grassland with shrubs and trees, found next to deserts and forests